Air Pollution

Dr. Akmal Rahim, Dr. Ajmal Rahim &

Dr. Seemal Vehra Ejaz

AIR
Air: The invisible mixture of colourless,
odorless and tasteless gases that surrounds
the earth.

Air pollution
Air pollution occurs when the air contains gases,
dust, fumes or odour in harmful amounts. That is,
amounts which could be harmful to the health or
comfort of humans and animals or which could cause
damage to plants and materials.
Air Pollution is excessive discharge of undesirable
foreign substances into the atmosphere, thereby
adversely affecting the quality of air and causing
damage to humans, plants, animals and materials.

Atmosphere
The envelope of
gases
surrounding the
earth or
another planet.

Atmosphere

Air Movements in the Troposphere Play a

Key Role in Earths Weather and Climate
Troposphere
7580% of the earths air mass
Closet to the earth's surface
Chemical composition of air
Rising and falling air currents: weather and climate
Involved in chemical cycling

The Stratosphere Is Our Global

Sunscreen
Stratosphere
Similar composition to the
troposphere, with 2 exceptions
Much less water
O3, ozone layer, filters UV

Air Pollutants

Carbon dioxide CO
Carbon MonoxideCO2
Sulphur oxides..SOx
Nitrogen oxides..NOX
Hydrogen sulphideHS
Chloroflourocarbons ..CFC
Ozone.. O3
MethaneCH4
Water vapours
Particulate matter ..PM

Some Pollutants in the Atmosphere

Combine to Form Other Pollutants
Primary pollutants
Secondary pollutants
Air quality improving in developed countries
Much more needs to be done in developing
countries

Sources of Air pollution

Anthropogenic ( Manmade) Sources

Population growth
Burning of fossil fuels
Emission from vehicles
Rapid industrialization
Deforestation
Landfillsrelease gases
Agricultural activities
Wars

Natural Sources

Volcano eruptions
Dust
Living organisms
Pollens

Air Pollution
Air pollution is the
addition of gases,
chemicals, and particle
matter into the
atmosphere. Air
pollution primarily
comes from burning
fossil fuels such as
natural gas, petroleum,
and coal.
And from
Industrialization

2009 abcteach.com

Sources: Population growth

Rapid increase in population requires:

More oxygen
Extra food
Extra land for agriculture..food
Results in pressure and stress on natural
resources..alters ecosystem processesand
becomes a prime cause of all sorts of pollutions

Sources: Emission from Vehicles

Automobile exhausts are responsible for more
than 75% of total air pollution.
Pollutants include:
Carbon monoxide
NO x
SOx
Hydrocarbons
Lead when leaded petrol is used
Incomplete combustion of engines

Sources: Rapid Industrialization

Various industries:
Chemical industries, paper mils cotton mills, petroleum
refineries, mines, rubber industries..etc together
contribute about 20% of air pollution
The most common pollutants from industries:
Carbon dioxide CO
Carbon MonoxideCO2
Sulphur oxides..SOx
Nitrogen oxides..NOX
Hydrogen sulphideHS

Sources: Deforestation
Forests are considered SINKS of CO2
DeforestationRemoval or Cutting forests releases
CO2 especially if it is burnt.
Denuded, bare land results in wind erosiondust
enters atmosphere

Air Pollution
The waste in landfills
releases methane. Sulfur
oxides, carbon monoxide
and carbon dioxide, and
methane all have a very
negative effect on air
quality. These pollutants
can also contribute to the
greenhouse effect.
2009 abcteach.com

Sources: Agricultural Activities

Biocides...eg. Pesticides, insecticides,
herbicides, which are used in agricultural
practices also cause air pollution as these
poisonous substances may be carried away by
wind to different places and cause health
problems for humans and animals.

Sources: Wars
Air pollution is also caused by
Various types of explosives, Bombs used in wars
Radioactive emissions from atomic reactors or
nuclear explosions pollute air and affect on only
present but future generations resulting in
deformitiesespecially in case of accidental
leakages.

Natural sources: Volcanic eruptions

Volcanoes can cause air pollution through
release of toxic gases and ash during an
eruption.
Toxic gases : sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide,
hydrogen chloride, and hydrogen fluoride.
The carbon dioxide released in a volcanic
eruption can contribute to the greenhouse
effect
sulfur dioxide is a
component in acid rain.

Air Pollution

Global warming.. Greenhouse effect

Acid rain
Ozone depletion
In human population-health problems
respiratory problem,
allergies
risk for canceretc

GREENHOUSE EFFECT

Green House Effect- Global warming

Acid Rain

Consequences of Acid rain

Ozone depletion- ozone hole-black hole

Ozone depletion

Ozone hole

SOLUTIONS
Stationary Source Air Pollution
Prevention
Burn low-sulfur coal

Dispersion or Cleanup
Disperse emissions above
thermal inversion layer
with tall smokestacks

Remove sulfur from

coal
Convert coal to a
liquid or gaseous
fuel
Shift to less polluting
energy sources

Remove pollutants
after combustion

Tax each unit of

pollution produced
Fig. 18-22, p. 491

SOLUTIONS
Motor Vehicle Air Pollution
Prevention
Use mass transit
Walk or bike

Cleanup
Require emission
control devices

Use less polluting

fuels
Improve fuel
efficiency
Get older, polluting
cars off the road
Give large tax write- offs
or rebates for buying
low-polluting, energy
efficient vehicles

Inspect car
exhaust systems
twice a year

Set strict emission

standards
Fig. 18-23, p. 491

Remedies: Role of Engines and Fuel

Different engines and fuel combinations give
out different emissions in different quantities.

Some engines have catalysts which effectively

remove part of the harmful gases.

Catalytic Converters and

Particle Traps
Catalytic converters can be fitted to cars to
reduce NOx emissions.
CO + HC + NOx

H2O + N2 + CO2
Platinum Honeycomb

Particle traps can be used to reduce PM10 and

NOx, but the effectiveness is severely reduced
if the fuel the vehicle burns has a high sulphur
content.

SOLUTIONS
Air Pollution
Outdoor

Indoor

Improve energy efficiency to

reduce fossil fuel use

Reduce poverty

Rely more on lowerpolluting natural gas

Distribute cheap and

efficient cookstoves or
solar cookers to poor
families in developing
countries

Rely more on renewable

energy (especially solar
cells, wind, and solarproduced hydrogen)

Reduce or ban
indoor smoking
Transfer energy efficiency,
renewable energy, and
pollution prevention
technologies to developing
countries

Develop simple and cheap

tests for indoor pollutants
such as particulates, radon,
and formaldehyde